Improvement in fruit-baskets



`NITED STATES ATENT OFFICEo OBEN STODDARD, OF BUSTI, NEV YOBK.

IMPROVEMENT IN FRUIT-BASKETS.

I Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 40,436, dated October 27, 1863.

a vertical section, and Fig. 4 is an inside view of the body of the basket.

Like letters refer to like parts. The nature of my invention relates to such l a form of baskets that they can be nested together for transportation and so constructed in regard to shape that when lled with fruit they can be placed one upon another wit-hout pressure upon the fruit, and thus transported without injury to either basket or fruit; also,

Ato the form and structure of the cover, by

which it is enabled to sustain a weight without pressing upon the fruit. Both the basket and cover are so constructed as to admit of a free circulation of air among the fruit to prevent its becoming moldy.

The bottom Aconsists of two thin disks of wood, A A, which should be in diameter about three-fifths of the top of the basket. Splints from three-fourths of an inch to one inch in width are introduced between these disks, as indicated by the dotted lines B in Fig. 4, and secured by small tacks, which are driven through the edges of the disks and splints, as shown at C in Figs. 3 and 4. From this point the splints curve gently upward, as seen at D, Fig. 3, until they are nearly ver tical, leaving a space of a quarter of an inch or more between each splint. At that point which marks about the middle of the body of the basket the hoop E incloses the splints, each one of which is secured to the hoop by means of small tacks. From this hoop E the splints curve outward and upward to the top, t'ie ends being secured between the hoops F Gr by tacks, as before described. The inner hoop, F, has only about half the width of the Outer hoop, G, the outer hoop projecting above the inner hoop, thusforming a ledge or rabbet for the cover.

The cover is constructed as follows: Two

are secured between two hoops, K and L, by

The

small tacks in the end of each splint.- hoop K is wider than the hoop L. rlhe outer circumference of K fits upon the inner circumference of the hoop G, thev lower edge of the hoop K and the upper edge of the vhoop F nieeting,as seen in' Fig. 8, and the edges of the hoops G and L meeting in the same manner, thus giving the cover a rm support upon the top of the basket.

It will be observed that the top of the basket is larger than the middle at E. Consequently larger baskets will contain smaller ones of the same form, enabling me to nest them for transportation.

When the baskets are filled with fruit, a large surface is exposed to view when the cover is removed.

When the cover is on, it can be secured for transportation when filled with fruit by tying with cords, or by wire twisted around the rims of the basket and cover at two or three points, thus securing them together. hemispherical form of the cover gives it lirmness, so that one basket can be set upon another when lled for transportation, and the fruit is thus secured from pressure.

Vhat I claim as my improvement, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The herein-described construction of basket and cover, wherein one end of the splints is secured between disks and the other end behoops, which form a rabbet in the top of the basket and a corresponding rabbet in the cover, which iit'together as described, and as a whole having the form and structure herein set forth, and operating as' and for the pur'- poses specified.

OBEN STODDABD.

Witnesses:

W.- H. BURRIDGE, HENRY VorH.

The splints bend out- The 

